abbotsford was jolted on Thursday afternoon when a two-car collision on the eastbound Highway 11 off-ramp at Old Yale Road ended in a second, more alarming crash a short distance away. What began as a routine traffic response quickly turned into a search for answers after one vehicle sped off and struck a tree in Crossley Park.
What happened on Old Yale Road?
The Abbotsford Police Department is asking for witnesses after the collision that unfolded at around 4: 45 p. m. on April 9. Sgt. Paul Walker, media officer with the APD, said officers heading to the scene were told one of the vehicles, a blue Hyundai SUV, had left after the first crash.
Walker said the SUV continued eastbound on Old Yale Road, crossed into oncoming traffic, left the roadway, and hit a tree in Crossley Park across from Yale Secondary. The wreckage was later towed away from the park, where the scene drew attention from people nearby.
Why does this case matter for abbotsford?
The immediate concern was not only the damage, but the risk created after the SUV moved away from the original collision. In abbotsford, a crash that shifts from a road to a park raises questions about how quickly a dangerous situation can spread beyond the first impact. Here, the incident moved from traffic lanes to a public green space in moments, placing bystanders and occupants in the path of a fast-changing emergency.
Emergency crews found three occupants inside the SUV. Walker said none were seriously injured, though they were taken to hospital as a precaution. The driver of the second vehicle involved in the original collision was not injured.
What are police asking witnesses to do?
The investigation is still in its early stages, and police are focusing on anyone who may have seen either collision or been in Crossley Park when the SUV entered the park and struck the tree. Walker said investigators want those witnesses to come forward and speak to police.
Anyone with information or dash-cam footage is being asked to contact the Abbotsford Police Department at 604-859-5225. That request reflects how often a brief moment on a road can become clearer only when ordinary drivers, park visitors, or nearby residents add what they saw.
For now, the scene near Old Yale Road stands as a reminder of how quickly a collision can change shape. In abbotsford, the questions left behind are not only about what happened in the first crash, but also about the seconds that followed and the people who may still hold the missing pieces.
